We don’t generally cover ski racing. But we decided this particular news—an American winning the World Cup two years in a row—was worthy. Enjoy your yearly dose of token ski-racing coverage.

0

SHARES

To stanch the flow of death threats for not covering it, this story is to remind you that the 2009 World Cup overall title, downhill title, and super-G title were captured by a 24-year-old American girl with blond hair that she periodically shakes as if she were in a shampoo commercial.

Never mind the fact that Lindsey Vonn is actually likable. This is the racer who elected to take a cow instead of prize money after her 2005 win at Val d’Isère, whose worst injury of 2009 came from cutting her hand on a broken champagne bottle, who speaks to the European press in German. (See? Likable.) But would we still like Vonn if she weren’t American?

Advertisement

In his book Sport, Nationalism, and Globalization: European and North American Perspectives, Alan Bairner argues that Americans are going to start caring about “global” sports, and soon. He wags a finger at American sports fans, we jingoists who don’t care about ski racing because we put so much stock into team sports like football, at which no nationality can touch us.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Except when we win. America celebrated Greg LeMond for winning the Tour de France in the late ’80s and early ’90s. This was followed by a long nap when legendary Spaniard Miguel Indurain won five back-to-back Tours. Then—surprise!—everyone loves Lance. Suddenly we all want to cure cancer because, while it’s OK if it knocks off Grandma, God forbid it should afflict celebrity athletes who, you know, go surfing with Matthew McConaughey on the weekend.

And when we win at ski racing? America certainly cares about Bode Miller. We like to think that it’s his explode-or-win style and his disdain for the media—a refreshing break from the spray-tanned athletes quipping sound bites more scripted than The Hills. But would we care if Bode were a Fritz from Austria? Unlikely.

Same goes for Vonn. Even though she’s talented and charming, the sad truth is that her countrymen wouldn’t care if she were a Gunhilda. But since she’s a Lindsey, congratulations!

Ski racer Lindsey Vonn was just named Female Athlete of the Decade by NBC's Universal Sports. After months of waiting for an interview, we finally managed to get Vonn to answer some of our questions. But instead of asking her about the Vancouver Olympics coming up in February, we spoke to the two-time World Champion about what it's like being hounded by the press.

It’s official: the biggest story at the Olympics is Lindsey Vonn’s shin. It has received more coverage than the nations of Latvia, Montenegro, Moldova, and San Marino. But here's what it, and the rest of the media, isn't telling you.